Spokane Shows the Failures of ‘Housing First’

The national policy of “Housing First” has been a disappointing failure at reducing homelessness overall. Housing should be only one part of a solution that includes treatment of mental illness and drug addiction. Much of the best leadership in actually reducing homelessness (rather than just subsidizing it) is coming from faith-based groups.

Such lessons were highlighted by Hello for Good, a well-attended civic symposium in Spokane on Friday. Dr. Robert Marbut, Discovery Institute fellow, Paul Webster of the LA Alliance for Human Rights, and Jon Ponder, founder of HOPE for Prisoners (in Nevada) were key participants.

Homelessness even in Spokane? Oh, yes. The state transportation department (WDOT) there houses one of largest camps in the country on some of its property.